Choosing your name

Grandma70s

I don’t mind my name, but I’d like something a bit more unusual. My parents considered Catriona, which I’d have liked, and also Alison, which I would not have liked. It sounds too sensible, but perhaps that’s a reflection of the people I’ve known with that name.

My grandchildren have three forenames each. That gives them plenty of choice.

My daughter is Catriona, which I have always loved - she has a godmother called Katriona and one of my grandmothers was Catherine and my mother-in-law was Katherine so it was a nod to all of them. Her middle name is Elizabeth, which is my mother's name, which I have always loved. For myself, I like both my names but, if I had to choose another, it would be Catherine, Rosalind or Bethan.

I was always called a slightly different name to my given name. School wasn't even given the correct name. I was 16 when I asked the headmistress to put the correct name on my exam certificates.
It causes confusion when nurses came in to give injections. Didn't find out why I was called the other name till I was in my 20s. Was due to a card my mum's sister had sent with that name on.
At mum's other sister's funeral I found out her name was something very different to the one we always used. Due to eldest sister's mispronunciation as a child.

I like Catriona myself. On balance I think I might choose Demelza for instance. It's pretty, feminine and there'd be no-one else sharing my name most likely.

I have (unofficially) changed my first name - wasn’t comfortable with the one my parents chose - and am known by my “new” name by everyone I’ve met in the last 45 years!

My name is Margaux ( French obviously ).

When foreigners call me Margot or Margaret I want to scream.

My twin daughters are NOELLE & NATHALIA ..

I love my 1st name Margaux.

And Margaux is a Bordeaux Red Wine of extraordinary quality.

Thinking about it - and that Demelza name is a Cornish one. Cue for I can hear my mother going "Well - you are half-Cornish". Yep.....she regarded Cornish as a nationality - rather than a county....and I'd correct her every time with "It's a county mother"....

JamesandJon33

I remember when atgrammar school , we were given French names , always used in the lesson. Peter was Pierre etc. There was no equivalent to my name so I was given Marthe absolutely hated it.

I was given Nicole because my birthday is St. Nicholas's day and I really disliked it. I don't know why I wasn't given Héléne, which is the nearest French equivalent to my name.

I’ve never liked my name and as a child wanted to be called Janet. Maybe from Janet and John reading books? Wouldn’t want that now though.
I don’t have a middle name.
When I went to secondary school I took the chance to use the shortened version of my name. Hardly anyone uses my full name now and hearing it takes me back to my childhood or makes me feel like I’m in trouble!

I like my name, though I do think it suits a younger person better!
My diction must be worse than I realise, because, over the phone, people always thought I was saying ‘Anita’, which I’m not as keen on.

I was born in late the 50's and my name, which I don't mind, wasn't as common as some at that time, people do misspell it as it's not the most common spelling. As we had a long surname my parents decided not to give any of us a middle name but I gave both my daughters a middle name as I did always wish had one.

Gran22boys

I love so many girls’ names. My favourites are Rose, Madeleine and Eleanor. When I was young, after watching flamenco dancing, I wanted to be called Carmen. But I don’t mind my name. However it is of its time and not used for children nowadays.

My younger daughter is named Madeleine. My mother (French) called me Francesca even though no Italian blood anywhere. I hated it as during my whole schooling I never encountered another girl with the same name. Everyone assumes I’m Frances which I don’t like either.

I like my name, however when I was young I had to repeat it several times, as it was not known very much in the UK and the spelling is/was awkward.
These days because of younger famous celebrities there is no problem in the Uk, people think I am younger than I am because it is a youthful name. However, I have to grit my teeth in France as I never hear the correct pronunciation.

I was born 2 months after the coronation and was named Margaret. I was not best pleased when at 5 years old, I found out I was not named Elizabeth after the queen. The excuse was both my maternal great grandmother and Auntie were called Elizabeth. All through my childhood everyone called me Maggie so I accepted it, until that is, I got married.

My MIL's name was Marguerite, which I thought was pretty, but her nursing colleagues shorten it to Maggie. Thereafter I was called Margaret by my husband and his family.

I have never liked my name because I associate it with being second best, so if I had a choice I would be named Rosemary because it's pretty.

The name i would have chosen is Roxanne, I hate my name.My maternal grandma was Iris Georgina,shortened to Gina, she called my mum Georgina Iris my mum called herself Iris.It,s odd how my nan gave my mum the name she hated as her middle name.My middle name is my mothers maiden surname as is my older brothers the reason being my mother was an only child and didnt want the name to die out.My dad wanted to call me Andrea but my mum said it would shortened to Andy I would have rather that than the name I have

That's funny you should say that as I'm an Alison and never liked it as a child as it seemed like a very sensible, serious name! However, most people call me Ali which I really like and sounds more fun - which hopefully reflects my personality more!😁

Well greenfinch, Sarah was the name my Father wanted for me, it was his Mothers name and my Mother hated her, so She called me Joan which never felt right to me. I use Sarah for Ebay.

I love my name, as I was named after the leading lady in Westside Story, and the infamous Sound of Music nun! my middle name is my mums first name as is the tradition in our family, but I would also have like AMELIA which was my mums mum, my nan who I never met.

When my boyfriend first moved in with me he told me he wanted me to call him Mike rather than Mick. It was very strange as everyone knew him as Mick. Then after a couple of days he came into the kitchen and he'd shaved off his moustache that he'd had for years and years to cover a scar above his lip from a car accident. He looked a completely different person. After now being married to him for over thirty years I've got used to it, although there are still a couple of folk who still call him Mick!

I used to loathe my name as a girl, but have grown into it. It’s rather old fashioned but has come back…

What’s interesting is that in English, one says “I am called…” meaning “people call me”, but in French and Spanish (and German too, I understand), one says, “je m’appelle..’ , “me llama…” or “I call myself…”, implying it is one’s choice what others calls oneself!

I hate all three of my names, but have never bothered to change any of them and use the first one of the three as it is the shortest. Even so I wouldn't have liked the first choice of Patience!!! Definitely wouldn't have suited me!!

I have always hated my name. In addition to being unusual my parents didn’t use the most common spelling so even if people recognise the name I have to point out how it is spelt. At school it was always one of the first names new teachers could put a face too so I was often called on to answer questions etc and I hated the attention. I would have liked something more ordinary or something prettier like a flower name.

I have never liked my first name Janice or middle name Desiree. I can’t explain why exactly other than I felt they didn’t suit me at all.
I would have much preferred any of the following; Orla, Freya, Ola, liberty, Nina. For some unexplainable reason I feel I can relate to them.
Ah well such is life, at the end of the day I have been called far worse.

NanKate

Thank you Kitty I think your ‘real’ name is rather Jane Austenish and I like it. 👍

Glad you are enjoying the thread Greenfinch

Thanks Nankate.

Someone mentioned stuffy head mistresses - our middle daughter has the name Elizabeth but is always called Lizzie. At secondary school her headmistress deemed it inappropriate but allowed one of her friends who was also named Elizzveth, to be called Beth.

I am one of 3 daughters. If my parents had had a son they would have named him Andrew, the reason my youngest sister is Andrea.

I have an unusual name. I have always liked being ‘different’. However I others always have problems with its spelling - just how it’s pronounced! Or else the pronunciation- just how it is spelt!